Clothes post



Dec. 25, 1945. E. M. ANDERSON ET AL CLOTHES POST Filed July 21 Patented Dec. 25, 1945 OFFICE CLOTHES POST EdwardM. Anderson and Donald H.Morris,

Monaca, Pa. v

Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 546,002"r This invention relates to newv and useful improvements in clothesline posts.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a vertically adjustable clothesline supporting post by means of which a clothesline may be loosened or stretched as needed, from a centralpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothesline post for adjustingthe clotheslines lower or higher to suit persons of various heights in hanging up or removing clothes.V

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensively constructed clothesline post comprising a tubular supporting member including a tubular telescoping member including simple means for elevating or lowering the telescopic member.

Still another object` of the invention is to provide-simple and eifective means to lock the telescopic member in any desired position thereby preventing tampering with the device when not in use or other reasons.

, To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereafter appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically de scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is` shown an embodiment of the present invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numeralsof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure l is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in general, showing the adjustable clothesline post stretching a clothesline.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the clothesline post, partly in outline and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the raising and lowering mechanism, also showing the locking means of the telescoping member.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line i 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in crosssectiony of the locking mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the exception that the pin wheel is in operating position, instead of in locked position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement showing four corner posts, preferably iixed 55 to the groundY and aL central extension post adapted'to loosen or stretch the clothesline.

Referring to thedrawing in the shown embodiment thereof, III designates'k a tubular main post, theV lowermost end of which is adapted to be inserted in a sleeve II secured in concrete I2,V as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Telescopically inserted in the main post IU is a tubular extension member I3 which is provided at the upperl end with threads I4 adapted to receive a cap I5 usually provided with four diametrical spaced hooks or loops I6 welded on the side of the cap.

In order to-elevate or lower the tubular extension member I3 in the main post ID, the extension member I3 is provided with a row of lvertically aligned apertures I'I spaced apart a distance equal to thepitch of the pins I8 of the pin-wheel I9. This pin-wheel is secured to a shaft and rotatably supported in a U-shaped bracket 2| Iwhich is welded or otherwise fastened to the exterior ofi the main post I0.

One end of shaft 20 is provided with a reduced portion 22 which is adapted to receive the operating handle-235 by means of which the extension member I3 may be alternately elevated or lowered, as needed.

The main post I0 has a vertical, elongated slot 24 which corresponds to the location of the apertures I'I of the extension member I3. In close proximity to the outer, upper edge 25 of said slot 24 of main post IU are a pair of ears 26, preferably welded, between which is freely mounted on a pin-connection 2'I a pawl 28, suitably tensioned by a spring 29 against one of the pins I8 of the pin-wheel I 9 so as to permit upward movement of the extension member I3 in the main post Ill when turning the operating handle 23 in clockwise direction.

In order to lower the extension member I3 it is only required to push the extension 30 of pawl 28 with a linger towards the main post II) and turn the operating handle 23 in counter-clockwise direction.

In Figure '7 there is shown a diagrammatic top view of an arrangement in which 3| represents four stationary common posts, while 32 represents the centrally located removable extension post. TWO ,crosswise clotheslines and 46 may be stretched from the diagonally opposed cornerposts by looping the lines over the hooks I6 on cap I5 of the extension post.

When using the aforesaid arrangement it is possible for a person to adjust the clothesline to a height easily accessible from the ground when hanging wet clothes on the lines or when removing the clothes when dried without the use of boxes or other supports for a person to stand on.

In order to prevent undesirable manipulation of the extension member I3, a safety lock 33 is provided by means of which it is made impossible to either raise or lower the extension member including of course the clotheslines unless the lock is released.

This safety lock 33 is preferably mounted on the bight 34 of the U-shaped pin-wheel bracket 2| as best shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 inclusive and the same consists of a hollow member 35 slidably and rotatably mounted in the central aperture 36 of said bight 34. This hollow member 35 is provided at one end with exterior threads to accommodate a nut 31 and at the other end with an integral circular disk 38 which merges outwardly into a ball-like knob 39. Secured to said bracket bight 34 are two oppositely spaced stub-pins 48 which cooperate with the open slots 4I of disk 38. Around the hollow member 35 and between the nut 31 and the inner face 42 of the bight 34 is an expansion coil spring 43 to retain the hollow member 35 in constant tension.

The operation of the safety lock 33 is as lfollows:

As will be noted, Figures 3 and 4 show the safety lock 33 in locked position while Figures 5 l and 6 show the same in open or unlocked position.

In order to lock the device, which of course means that the extension member I3 is prevented from up or down movement, it is only required to take hold of the knob 39 and turn the same until the stub-pins 40 engage in the open slots 4I of the disk 38. By doing this, the inner bore 44 of the hollow member 35 slides in engagement and over one of the pins I8 of the pin-wheel I9 and is held in that position by the coil-spring 43 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 until again manually released by taking hold of the knob 39, then pulling the hollow member 35'out of engagement of one of the pins I8 of the pin-wheel I9 after which the knob 39 is slightly rotated until the 4a t l U-shaped bracket, when 1n locked position.

stub-pins 40 come into contact with the under face 41 of disk 38.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the general arrangement of a. clothesline supported on a central post which may be conveniently elevated or lowered thereby loosening or tightening the clothesline and which can be maintained at various heights makes the device a very useful and convenient implement for any household more so because tampering is prevented without the use of a key.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is also desired to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

A clothes post of the character described, comprising a tubular main post and a tubular, telescoping extension member having a plurality of vertically aligned, equally spaced openings; means for raising or lowering said extension member, said means comprising a'pin-wheel having radiallyk disposed, equally spaced pins adapted to register with the openings of said extension member; said pin-wheel rotatably supported in a U-shaped bracket secured to said main post; an operating handle secured to said pin-wheel for rotating same; a pawl pivotally mounted on themain post in engagement with one ofthe pins of said pin-wheel for retaining said extension member in raised position and means independent from said pawl for locking' said pin-wheel from rotation thereby preventing the extension member from being raised or lowered by'said operating handle, said locking means adapted to embrace one of the pin-wheel pinsby means of a hollow, spring tensioned member slidably and rotatably mounted in an aperturev positioned in the bight of said U-shaped bracket; said hollow member terminating outwardly into an integral disc which merges into an operating knob; said disc provided with oppositely spaced openings arranged to receivea pair of outwardly extending pins, secured to the bight of said EDWARD M. ANDERSON. DONALD H. MORRIS. 

